The Birth Story of Mr. Z

It all started on September 3, 2007. It was Labor day (what a coincidence). We were going to my sister in law’s house for a family get to together. I knew I was having some kind of contractions, so I brought my suitcase just in case. The feelings continued when we got there, but I really thought it was false labor. I took a walk, a hot bath, and laid down, but they didn’t stop. I sat in a room with 6 moms and one nurse sharing their stories and trying to help me figure out if this was really it.

That night on the way home the contractions were coming around 4 minutes apart. By that time everyone had finally talked me into stopping by the birth center. Once we got there the midwife examined me and I was 5 cm dilated, 95% effaced. I guess I really was in labor! After that, things progressed pretty quickly. Everything was coming strong and fast and I started to throw up. We went upstairs to where I would deliver and I threw up several more times, but finally it stopped.

My favorite part of labor was when we played the song from our wedding “Still The One” and it was just me and my husband taking in the magnitude of the moment, our lives were about to be changed forever!

I proceeded to lie down in the bed as the moment drew closer. I thought my water had broken and it turned out to be blood loss and because of this they decided to break my water because it was time for the baby to come out!

I pushed for about 20 minutes. I was in so much pain and ready for it to be over. They had to put me on oxygen for a little while. Once I saw my baby though it really did all go away. My husband was the one that “caught” the baby with the help of our midwife, and he was the one that placed our newborn in my arms, it was AMAZING!

We loved him before he was even here, but to be able to hold him at last was indescribable. Everything was going as I hoped it would, I had done it all naturally. My husband was by my side, my baby was in my arms…

but then things took a turn for the worse. I was told that the placenta was not coming out on it’s own. At this time I don’t even know what happened. Everyone said I looked gray, like I was going to pass out. They hooked me up to an IV, gave me more oxygen, gave me oral liquid supplements. I had to get out of the bed and start pushing again. All that is fine when you have the baby as motivation, but having to go through all the breathing and pushing for the PLACENTA!? It was not fun, and it was not coming either. It was almost to the point of having to be transferred to the ER, when my midwife started praying out loud. She was calm and yet very authoritative, everyone in the room started praying- and that was the moment that the placenta was delivered!!!
From there, our parents joined us and the baby was examined. He weighed 8lbs 11 oz and was 21.25 inches. None of us expected him to be that big.

I was exhausted. The 3 of us slept together at the birth center that night and the next day at noon we went home with our perfect baby boy.

So that is pretty much the whole story of the day we became parents.

Z’s 1st Birthday

This week we celebrated baby Z’s first birthday with a construction party. I have to admit I had been so focused on out of town guests, parties, presents, and cake that I almost forgot that my baby was turning one! Wow, it feels like only yesterday he seemed so fragile resting in my arms and I would watch in amazement as he would barely open his eyes to peek up at me. Now he is on the go and ready to explore the world around him, but he still looks up at me with those same eyes only now he can say mama. It’s hard to believe all that happened in one year. It is a pretty big milestone he just crossed, and we went out with a bang. Here are some of the highlights of Baby Z’s First Birthday…

**I apologize for the poor photo quality. The digital images were erased somehow, but luckily I had prints so these are just photos of the photos. Oops.**

When Z was born we put balloons out that let the neighbors know that he had arrived. We put a bouquet of balloons in the yard again for his birthday.

The theme was construction. I was a bit embarrassed that our house is STILL under construction so rather than fight I just went with it.

There were trucks, cones, party hats, caution tape, and Z even had a construction truck romper.

One of my best friends made the cakes and they turned out AMAZING.

When the guest arrived we snacked, visited, and looked at photo albums of Z and his baby book reminiscing all the good times from the past year.

We knew the cake would be messy so we undressed Z for the big event. Then TA-DA construction cloth diaper!

He loved this next part.

After the cake he had a quick bath and then sported his final ensemble for the night, another construction outfit.

Z had lots of fun and really enjoyed being spoiled with attention and plenty of presents. In honor of my baby boy I read this poem that I had written for him. I’ll end with this.

Do You Know That Feeling?

Do you know that feeling when someone comes into your life

and now you can’t imagine life without them there?

And the fear of loosing them can be all too intense

so you ask God for protection with each prayer.

Do you know that feeling when a little smile

can be the one thing that gets you through the day?

Then there are the times when you are soaking in the moment

and you just lay there with nothing to say

Oh what a feeling when you’re laughing so hard

you can’t stop, but you don’t even know why.

Or the feeling that only your tears can express,